"^^^ Such views are why Gore and Kerry didn't win and why Obama isn't a lock. Saying to someone "you're a dumbass, vote for me(or the candidate I support)," does not a good campaign strategy make. "
Uh hardly. Do you understand what the other side thinks of our side? The same thing. The big difference is tact. Republicans use smart wedge issues to build the base. Democrats have to adhere to multiple views on issues and support unpopular but just decisions. We are wimps at defending things like gay marriage.
Those two elections were close because of issues like Terri Shiavo, gays, abortion, and GUNS. The second election for FEAR. Those were the issues and only one of them has been truly addressed and that is gun deregulation. George Bush has had 6 years to dissolve Roe v Wade and has not done so. He used his religious base just for votes and then ditched them. They are stupid enough to keep following and abortions happen every day.
Democrats did not ostracize these people because they assumed they were/are stupid. Most assumed these people would not vote, because in the past THEY HAVE NOT. But guess what? They did and Democrats under estimated the power of wedge issues.
This election will be different. Obama has negated most wedge issues by communicating views that people can understand and side with. He uses offensive tactics to handle anything coming his way (see the Clinton summer gas rebate). Obama went into states Democrats have previously ignored. He will go wherever there are votes. It's a holistic approach.
The naivety of which you speak is arrogant. It's the same arrogance I felt from the Clinton campaign. It's an assumption that your message is reaching everyone and that polls and the media will do your ground work. Obama plays the game differently.
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